The Washington critic., 1887-12-13
ON TOP OF PIXIES PEAK.
a Visit to the Lofiic-t signal station In the
United states.

Quilted States.
In n recent Colorado letter to the Bos-
ton Travcll7- Mr.. Thomas II. Smith thus
describes visr, o the Pixies Peak signal
station: There is no communication
from the Peak to the towns below at
present, the telegraph line being out of
order, and it has been found to be an
impossibility to keep II from grounding
owing TO the forest, Us the storms blow
down the trees, which carry with them
the wire. The sun telegraph rs means
of communication is sometimes used at
present with the town below. On the
northwest side of the Peak there are
several large gulches in which the snow
is 80 feet deep, and it is upon this that
the observer depends for his supply of
water in the summer.
THE OBSERVERS WORK.
Entering the signal station we find a
cosy seat by the big stove and enjoy our
self by watching the logs of wood burn.
Coal is not used, and the wood costs $50
a cord to cut, pack on the backs of mules
and burros, and transport from the tim
Der line below. The signal station was
established in 1878, and for several years
daily reports were sent to Washington,
but since the wire has been down only
monthly reports have been sent. These
would have been discontinued had not
| Harvard University taken an interest in
! the Government. II is intended
]
stellar photography at that high
altitude. Observations are taken in re-
gard to the weather. temperature, height
of barometer, direction and speed of the
wind, and the amount of snow and rain
as well as the kind of clouds that are
visible. These are taken nj q. m, 3
p. m, and 10 p. III. by the large clock
which is kept with Washington time,
but our time here is two hours earlier.
THE SIGNAL STATION
is solid stone building, with walls two
feet thick and is anchored down, Will,
it has double windows and an iron roof
1t has Il kitchen, dining-room, Office
bedroom and spare chamber fol
visitors, while woodshcd is also con
nccted with the establishment. The
instruments are mostly in the Office, and
there is Il library, the books of which
have been donated by friends, although
many have been purchased. As we sit
by the fire enjoying ourselves we car
hear the wind outside playing st,
dcum," us the lrishmuu SAYS, and ",
take look at the wind vanc ano
see that il registers scventy-eight miles
an hour while the thermometer is n
zero, and this in October. which is on,
Of the plcasantcst months of the yea
in the East But this is not anythin,
beside some Of the weather that we hay,
here, as it frequently reaches forty de
grecs below zero in january and ion
miles an hour is no unusual velocity fo
the wind. Think of ii, and then of tn,
pleasures that surround life this for
sakcn place, where 1t is frequently i'm
possible TO get down to the town bcloy
: and see anybody in two months. 1t i
no unusual thing for the observer t.
have to travel five miles ON snoy
shoes almost in the middle of summe
: in order to reach the town. In the wa,
: Of eutables the observer is provided witt
large supply Of canned goods, whicI
, are brvirht up on mules in the summe
montls, and he frequently has Dime
; of game. The altitude OF the Peak is :
high that il is impossible for an oil
server 10 stay very long at time, an
when it is possible change is mad
! once II month.